Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA)called on the U.S. Coast Guard to provide clarification about the agency’s role
in responding to debris arriving from Japan as a result of the tragic 2011
earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Nearly 100,000 tons of debris carrying
numerous invasive species are expected to wash up along the shores of
Washington and other Pacific Ocean states, posing a significant threat to the
states’ economic interests and delicate coastal ecologies. To date, the
response from the Coast Guard and other federal agencies has not been
consistent.

Congressman McDermott called for clarity in the debris response in a letter he
sent to the Coast Guard that was cosigned by a bipartisan coalition of 27
Members of Congress, including Norm Dicks (D-WA), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA),
Adam Smith (D-WA) and Dave Reichert (R-WA).

In the letter, McDermott wrote, “Not only does this debris represent a
significant threat to international shipping and other coastal industries, many
invasive species have been discovered on this debris that, if left unaddressed,
could represent an unprecedented threat to our coastal ecologies. In light of
this serious threat we ask that you clarify your agency’s role in responding to
the arrival of tsunami debris on our coasts and we encourage close coordination
with state and local entities as this response continues.”

McDermott also highlighted the difference in the response to the 66-foot
dock that was allowed to wash ashore in Oregon and the abandoned Japanese
fishing boat, the Ryou-Un Mara, which was sunk by the Coast Guard 195 miles off
the Alaskan Coast. “Given this inconsistency,” McDermott wrote, “please
provide us with the criteria that the Coast Guard uses to determine when it
will take decisive and effective action like that which was taken in the case
of the Ryou-Un Mara.”

The McDermott letter was signed by Members from each of the Pacific Ocean
states – California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii, as well as the U.S.
territories in the Pacific – and the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security,
Commerce, State, Interior, and the U.S. Navy were copied on the letter.

The full text of the letter to the follows (click here to view signed letter):

Thank you for your continued dedication to defending our nation’s maritime
interests. As Members of Congress from the West Coast, Alaska, Hawaii,
and the U.S. territories in the Pacific we appreciate your work and know that
your efforts are highly valued by our constituents.

We are writing about an important issue affecting our districts and the nation:
the arrival of debris from the tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011. The
earthquake and subsequent tsunami resulted not only in the tragic loss of too
many lives; they also caused nearly 5 million tons of debris to be swept into
the Pacific Ocean. More than a year later, large pieces of debris are
appearing along the Pacific Coast of the United States, and are expected to be
just the beginning of nearly 100,000 tons of debris to wash up along the shores
of Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California.

On June 5th, a 66-foot dock from Misawa Japan washed ashore on Agate
Beach near Newport, Oregon. The arrival of this dock emphasizes the
seriousness of the issue of marine debris from the tsunami. Not only does this
debris represent a significant threat to international shipping and other
coastal industries, many invasive species have been discovered on this debris
that, if left unaddressed, could represent an unprecedented threat to our coastal
ecologies. In light of this serious
threat we ask that you clarify your agency’s role in responding to the arrival
of tsunami debris on our coasts and we encourage close coordination with state
and local entities as this response continues.

Earlier this year, an abandoned Japanese fishing boat, the Ryou-Un Mara, which
had been washed out to sea by the tsunami, was scuttled by the Coast Guard 195
miles off the Alaskan Coast. According
to reports, collaboration by the Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Association (NOAA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
quickly determined that sinking the ship at sea was the best option to protect
coastal marine habitats and end any potential danger it might pose to other
vessels. The arrival of the dock on the Oregon coast indicates that it
was not determined to pose a similar threat. Given this inconsistency,
please provide us with the criteria that the Coast Guard uses to determine when
it will take decisive and effective action like that which was taken in the
case of the Ryou-Un Mara.

Another concern that has been brought to our attention is the lack of
information sharing by federal agencies with state and local government
entities that are responsible for debris removal. We appreciate
that the Coast Guard is asked to perform extraordinary work under difficult
circumstances with limited resources, but we are concerned that local entities
may not be notified before the arrival of potentially large pieces of
debris. For this reason, we ask that you provide us with specific details
about your procedure for reporting marine debris to local authorities and how
you will ensure proper notification of potential threats caused by incoming
hazards.

The earthquake and tsunami were unfortunate natural events beyond our
control. The resulting debris presents a challenge of unprecedented scale
to our overburdened state and local agencies. We are confident that the
federal agencies with jurisdiction over marine debris issues, the state agencies
responsible for maintaining the beaches and marine ecosystems, and the local
governments and citizens who are committed to helping their communities can
address this challenge. We want to work with you as this threat unfolds
and we appreciate you providing us with the information necessary to do so.

We look forward to your response, and thank you in advance for your prompt
attention to this request.